There was a review of it in some mag recently, apparently it's crap. The input signal is halfway decent level-wise, but there is absolutely no gain control. Seems like a big waste of money to me.

Nobody likes a bad snowball.

So basically it is just another product trying to make loot of of garageband?

McCheese wrote: There was a review of it in some mag recently, apparently it's crap. The input signal is halfway decent level-wise, but there is absolutely no gain control. Seems like a big waste of money to me.

McCheese,
I would not call it "crap"! Rather a very good USB Microphone. Granted you dont have much control of the signal going into your computer. The control of your audio is really in the software. If your looking to get a studio going and don't have alot of $$$, the USB microphone is a great way to get started. If you choose the "Snowball" from BLUE or the COU1 from Samson each are good in there own way. I bought the snowball and was very impressed from the git go. The Snowball is very cool because it has 2 Capsules in it. Controlled by a 3 way switch, Position 1&2 engage the Cardioid Capsule. Position 3 engages the Omni Capsule. Position 1 is directional, Position 2 is directional with a -10db pad (loud situations) Position 3 is omni directional (It's like 3 microphones in one). If your looking to do some "live" recording just grab your laptop, Snowball and your good to go. No I would not call it "crap" at all. Just my .02!

macbodock...how does it compare to a traditional mic/ pre-amp combo signal wise?

Let me take time to answer 2 of your questions:

JSRockit wrote: So basically it is just another product trying to make loot of of garageband?

JSRockit,
YES...story goes that Skipper Wise(Blue Founder), his daughter was always playing wtih GB and he wanted a simple mic to work with GB. so he came up with the SnowBall. That is the reason that the SnowBall works so well with "Core Audio" on the macintosh.

JSRockit wrote: macbodock...how does it compare to a traditional mic/ pre-amp combo signal wise?

I have worked in radio for 15 plus years and I am used to either a Neumann or Senheiser microphone which are some of the best broadcast mics that you can have. I use the snowball with the switch in position 2(directional with the -10db pad) and...instead me telling you how great the mic is go take a listen here! This way you don't have to take my word for it. Signal seems to be clean and strong. Even though I dont have control of the micrphone via a mixer, the sofware that I use(PeakLE) allows me to control the gain and what I dont like I can change with the Audio Units that I have. Using a USB Microphone is a new way of recording and requires a new way of thinking. With all the software that is on the market it seems the less hardware we need. I think this is one of the best microphone for what I am doing. For the price $139 this thing is amazing and well worth the price and you just cant go wrong. The COU1 from Samson has nothing on the Snowball.

MacBoDock wrote: Snowball is very cool because it has 2 Capsules in it. Controlled by a 3 way switch, Position 1&2 engage the Cardioid Capsule. Position 3 engages the Omni Capsule. Position 1 is directional, Position 2 is directional with a -10db pad (loud situations) Position 3 is omni directional (It's like 3 microphones in one)

Now I ask you to try this with the COU1 from Samson. Just my .02! JSRockit I hope this answers your question. If you have more questions I would be happy to answer.

Warmest Regards,